Comedians are vital allies in the fight for free speech

Thank God for comedians. We need them more than ever in these miserable times to cheer us up. But they also play a more vital role: in the fight for free speech. John Cleese is the latest comedian to join the battle. During a debate on the controversial Scottish hate crime bill, Cleese said it would be ‘disastrous to the creative process because the creative process is a matter of spontaneity’. He’s right: this is a law which if introduced could change comedy – and free speech – for ever. 

Cleese is not the only comedian to speak out. Rowan Atkinson has co-signed a letter warning the proposals could stifle freedom of expression. Atkinson is no stranger to sticking up for free speech: back in 2012, he helped push for an amendment to remove the word ‘insults’ from section 5 of the Public Order 1986 Act, because campaigners argued they must be free to insult each other without fear of arrest.